Route: East RidgePosted On: 2021-01-09,
By: arnavxvInfo: Was able to drive all the way to Iowa Gulch in a rav4. First half of the road there are tire tracks, but after that it's snowmobile tracks I was driving out. Was able to just barely make it, but very sketchy. If I put chains on, would've been a breeze. I packed the road down pretty well and before the next storm, most crossovers with snow tires and/or chains would be able to make it.
Ascended by climbing up into Dyer amphitheater. There are some boot pack tracks from someone who did Dyer the day prior, but I found using snowshoes easier for the majority of the gain. Need to do some route finding. Parts of the amphitheater are on/under avalanch slopes, and snow is still dangerous, but all avy danger can be avoided with careful route finding. On a lower angle section I triggered a gigantic woomph that could likely have been heard a mile away.
Snow is very variable. Some wind slab, some powder, some ice crust. The final ascent to the pass is the worst - snow on top of a loose and unstable Boulder field. I took off my snowshoes here. Once you get to the pass, the summit is 250' up the ridge. Easy peasy up and down.
A fun climb, and a great way to kill a few hours. RT is 3 miles and 1600 ft gain (but those 3 miles are very difficult, mile for mile).
